You know, when I first started reading this book, I was ready to put it down and figure out how to word my review in order to not offend the author. But I kept at it and I wasn't disappointed - Yeah there were times that I got confused with the "timing" of the writing - it would bounce back and forth between the past and present without warning or preamble. Getting past this though, the story is heart-felt and touched my emotions.

Rose leaves her abusive husband along with her 7 year old eccentric daughter, Maddie and takes off for parts unknown except from a painting on a post card. This post card was sent to her from a man who visited her over 7 years ago looking for her father. Rose immediately felt a connection to him and it was through that memory and the post card that Rose was able to get through all the years of her abusive marriage.

Unexpectedly, Rose finds out that her estranged father lives outside the town pictured on her postcard (which by the way is a print he painted). Rose confronts her father after not seeing him since he took off when she was 9 years old. Rose, Maddie and John all work on building the foundation of a relationship and many times throughout the book, I found myself bawling my eyes out and then suddenly laughing through the tears.

This is also a romance between Rose and Rowan who is her fathers agent (plus he is the man who Rose was searching for). They go through friendship, promised love, heartbreak, friendship again....while all along Rose battles with the stress of her husband finding her.

This is a story of Rose and Maddie's journey of self discovery. Throughout the book we see both girls blossom into their own self identities. Rose is no longer the mousey, submissive wife while Maddie gains social skills and finds her happiness in life.